Strand distributing apparatus



Jan. 5, 1960 D. c. FRATE STRAND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS 2 SheetS -Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28, 1956 INVENTQR. D. C. FRA TE BY 1, .Q.

ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1960 D. c. FRATE 2,919,868

STRAND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 28, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 0. C. FRA TE ATTORNEY n w tat s lat f fl STRAND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS' Application November 28, 1956, Serial No. 624,936-

' Claims. 01. z42-1ss.3

This invention relates to strand distributing apparatus, and more particularly to strand distributing apparatus for preventingstrand convolutions from piling up at the ends or flanges of a takeup reel as a strand is wound thereon.

It is an object of the invention to provide new and improved strand distributing apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide simple and highly effective apparatus for rapidly reversing the wrap angle of a strand being wrapped upon a takeup reel, in'order to prevent the strand convolutions from-piling up at the ends thereof.

Related methods of and apparatus for distributing strand material are disclosed in the co-pending application of T. T. Bunch, Serial No. 624,867, filed on even date herewith; 'With these andother objects in-view one apparatus embodying the inv entionrelates to an improvement in strand-distributing apparatus of they type wherein a traversing guide mounted on a rotary threaded shaft reciprocates back and'forth across the winding surface of a rotating takeup reel upon rotation of the shaft to distribute the strand onto the reel in a succession of layers of helical convolutions. ITheimprovement may include the provision of means for moving the shaft longitudinally thereof, in combination with means, operable immediately after the completion of each strand-distributing stroke as the strand reaches the end of the reel, for actuating the shaft-moving means so that the shaft-moving means moves the shaft a predetermined short distance in such direction that the angle of approach of the strand to the reel during the; stroke just completed is reversed and such that the same angle is rapidly established in the opposite direction for the next strand-distributing stroke. 7

According to certain specific features of the invention, a distributing apparatus is provided including a sheave mounted on a distributor carriage for guiding a strand onto a rotating reel, a rotating shaft having both right and left-hand threads superimposed thereon which reciprocate the carriagein'a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel and an air cylinder system for moving the shafti a short distance toward the new direction of wrap as the'ca'rriage reaches the end of each reciproeating stroke.- 'Means are-provided for driving the shaft comprisinga splined portion on the shaft driven by a concentric 'splined'sprocket received within a stationary A'better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction withthe' appendedfirawings, in which: "fFig'." 11- is a plan view of strand reeling apparatus formiiiga specific embodiment of the invention with a portionof the apparatusbfokeii away for clarity;

"Fig, 2 is a left-side elevation of the apparatus shown in' Fig -l; Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical section taken. along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical 44 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, vertical section taken along line 5--5 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, a pair of guides 11-11 are secured to a base plate 12 by four channels 13-13. A lift plate 14 is arranged for vertical movement by an air cylinder system 16 (only partially shown) and has secured thereto a reel ramp-17 having guides 1818 secured thereon. A pair of reel supports 19-19 are secured to the base plate 12 and projectthrough a pair of apertures 21-21 in the'lift plate 14 and have rotatably secured upon them an arbor 22 by means of a pair of split block bearings 23- -23.

A takeup reel 24 having flanges 26-46 is mounted upon the arbor 22 which also has a sprocket 27 and driv ing wheel 28 rigidly secured thereon for rotation therewith. The driving wheel 28 has a projection (not shown) inserted within an aperture (not shown) in the adjacent flange 26 for driving the reel 24. The. arbor 22 also has a collar 29 rotatably mounted thereon for centering the reel on the arbor.

The arbor 22 is driven through the sprocket 27 meshing with a sprocket 31 keyed to a jack shaft 32 rotatably mounted upon one of the reel supports 19 19. Also mounted on the shaft 32 and keyed thereto for rotation therewith is a sprocket 33 driven by a sprocket 36 and chain transmission 34. The sprocket of the sprocket and chain transmission 34 is keyed for rotation with a shaft 37 upon which is also keyed for rotation therewith a sprocket 38 which is driven through a chain 39 by a drive motor 41 secured rigidly to the base plate 12 by means of a spacer 42. The shaft 37 is secured rotatably Within split block bearings 43-43 secured rigidly with the base plate 12 by means of bearing block supports 44-44.

The distributor assembly, indicated generally as 46, is mounted upon channels 4747 which are secured to the base plate 12 and supported by members 4848 extending between the reel supports 1919'and the channels 4747. A distributor mounting plate 49 is welded to the channelsa47-47 and has' bearing blocks 51 and 52 rigidly secured 'upon it (Figs. 3 and 4). With bearing blocks 51 and 52 is rotatably mounted a splined distributor shaft 53 having a right and left-hand threaded portion 54.

section taken along line A splined portion 56 of the shaft 53 has a splined sprocket 57 received thereon and is driven through the sprocket 57 by chain 58 through sprocket 59 mounted upon shaft 61 and keyed thereto for rotation therewith. The shaft 61 is driven by sprocket 62 through a sprocket and chain transmission 60 from the shaft 37. Therefore, it is'manifest that a given amount of rotation of the reel 24 will be accompanied by a given amount of rotation of the shaft .53. The splined sprocket 57 is prevented from reciprocation with the shaft 53 by a yoke formed by a stop member 63, a portion of one of the channels 47- -47, the plate 49 and the bearing block 51. On the opposite end from its splined portion 56 the shaft 53 has a projection 64, a portion of which forms an enlarged cylinder 66, which is received within a T-slot 65 of a bearing block 67 for rotation therein. The bearing block 67' is moved from time to time from the position shown in phantom lines to the position shown inheavy lines in Fig."4'by an air cylinder system 68 rigidly secured to the distributor mounting plate 49 and actuated electrically by microswitches 69 and 71 secured to distributor mounting plate 49."

A'distributor carriage 72 is received around the shaft 53 for reciprocation thereon and has a follower holder 73 mounted therein. A follower 70'is rigidly secured to the holder 73 in such a position as to ride Within the threaded portion of the shaft 53 so as to reciprocate the carriage 72 as the shaft 53 rotates. The carriage 72 is prevented from random rotation about the shaft 53 by a pair of guide shafts 7474 passing through apertures in the carriage 72. Each of the shafts 7474 is secured at one end to bearing block 51 and at the other to bearing block 52. The distributor carriage 72 has rigidly se cured thereon a pair of angles 7676 forming a yoke within which is rotatably received a distributor sheave 77. Also secured upon the carriage 72 are pair of microswitch actuators 78-78 suitably located to actuate microswitches 69 and 71.

Operation Assuming that it is desired to wind a strand upon the reel 24, the empty reel is provided with the arbor 22, the sprocket 27, the driving wheel 28 and collar 29 in the assembled position depicted in Figs. 1 and 2. The reel 24 is then rolled onto the reel ramp 17 and by suita ble operation of the air cylinder system 16 is transferred to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The arbor is rotatably secured to the reel supports 19-19 by attaching the upper portion of each of the split block bearings 23-23 to the lower portion thereof with the arbor secured therebetween.

The strand 10 is threaded around the sheave 77 and attached to the winding surface of the reel 24. The motor 4-1 is operated to drive the shaft 37 through the chain 39 and sprocket 38 which, through the above-described sprocket and gear transmissions, rotates the reel 24 and reciprocates the carriage 72 in a predetermined speed relationship depending upon the gear ratios from the shaft 37 to the arbor 22 and to the shaft 53, respectively. These ratios may be changed to produce the pitch length desired for the particular strand to be wound upon the reel.

As the reel 24 rotates and the carriage 72 reaches the end of a stroke across the winding surface of the reel, the wrap angle (i.e. the angle of approach of the strand to the reel, by which is meant that angle between the strand and an extended cross sectional plane of the winding reel which includes the point at which the strand contacts the surface of the reel) must be rapidly reversed to an equal value in the opposite direction so as to prevent a piling up of convolutions of strand at one of the flanges 26-26. Because during operation the shaft 53 rotates in only one direction the wrap angle is reversed when the projection 70 of the follower assembly 73 reaches either of a pair of sections 75-75 provided at either end of the threaded portion 54 to interconnect the right and left-hand threads on the threaded portion 54 of the shaft 53. However, depending upon the relative speeds of rotation of the reel 24 and the shaft 53, the sections 7575 may not reverse the wrap angle rapidly enough to prevent a piling up of convolutions of strand at one of the flanges 2626.

This problem is solved by the air cylinder system 68 in the following manner: assuming that the carriage 72 is finishing its stroke and is moving toward the left in Fig. l at the same time the follower 70 reaches section 75 one of the actuators 78-78 will strike the microswitch 71 which will actuate the air cylinder system 68 to rapidly move the shaft 53 from the position shown in phantom lines in Figs. 3 and 4 to that shown in solid lines, thus rapidly moving the carriage 72 and the sheave 77 so as to rapidly reverse the wrap angle. Assuming that the carriage '72 is moving to the right as in Fig. l, a similar chain of events causes a rapid reversal of the wrap angle in an opposite direction.

The general solution to, this problem, by rapidly reversing the wrap angle, and certain particular apparatuses therefor are described and claimed in the beforementioned co-pending application, Serial No. 624,867.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall Within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a strand-distributing apparatus of the type wherein a traversing guide mounted on a rotary threaded shaft reciprocates back and forth across the winding surface of a rotating takeup reel upon rotation of the shaft to distribute the strand onto the reel in a succession of layers of helical convolutions; the improvement which comprises means for moving the shaft longitudinally thereof, and means operable immediately after the completion of each strand-distributing stroke as the strand reaches the end of the reel for actuating said shaft-moving means so that said shaft-moving means moves the shaft a predetermined short distance in such direction that the angle of approach of the strand to the reel during the stroke just completed is reversed and such that the same angle is rapidly established in the opposite direction for the next strand-distributing stroke.

2. Apparatus for distributing strand material on a rotary takeup reel, which comprises a rotatable shaft having an axis parallel to the axis of the reel, said shaft having a right and left-hand threaded portion and also having a projection axially thereof, a portion of which forms an enlarged cylinder, means for rotating said shaft, a distributor carriage having an aperture therethrough within which is received said shaft, a follower projecting from said carriage and positioned so as to engage the threaded portion of said shaft, whereby said carriage is reciprocated back and forth across the winding surface of said reel by the rotation of said shaft, a guide mounted on said carriage for guiding the strand toward the takeup reel, a member having a T-slot therein within which is rotatably received the enlarged cylindrical portion of said shaft, 2 fluid-cylinder system connected to said member and capable of moving said shaft in a direction 1ongitudinally thereof, and means operated by said carriage for actuating said fluid-cylinder system as said carriage finishes a reciprocating stroke in one direction, so that said shaft is rapidly moved a predetermined distance in the opposite direction to rapidly reverse the angle of wrap, whereby the strand material is distributed in even layers back and forth along the length of the takeup reel and is prevented from piling up at the ends thereof.

3. Apparatus for distributing strand material on a rotary takeup reel, which comprises a rotatable shaft having an axis parallel to the axis of the reel, said shaft having a splined portion thereon and a right and lefthand threaded portion, mounting means having the reel mounted thereon for rotation and having said shaft mounted thereon for rotation and reciprocation axially of said shaft, a sprocket having a splined axial aperture therein, said sprocket concentrically received upon the splined portion of said shaft, a stop member mounted on said mounting means and with said means forming a yoke within which is received said sprocket whereby said sprocket is prevented from reciprocation with said shaft, means for driving said sprocket whereby said shaft is rotated, a distributor carriage having an aperture therethrough within which is received said shaft, 21 follower projecting from said carriage and positioned so as to engage the threaded portion of said shaft whereby said carriage is reciprocated by the rotation of said shaft, a sheave mounted on said carriage for guiding the strand toward the takeup reel, fluid-actuated means engaging said shaft for indexing said shaft in a direction longitudinally thereof, and means for actuating said fluidactuated meanss, whereby, as the carriage finishes a reciprocating stroke in one direction, the shaft is rapidly moved a distance in the opposite direction of winding and the strand is prevented from piling up at the ends of the takeup reel.

4. Apparatus for distributing strand material on a rotary fiangedtakeup reel, which comprises a rotatable shaft having an axis parallel to the axis of the reel, said shaft having a right and left-hand threaded portion, having a splined portion and also having a projection axially thereof, a portion of which projection forms an enlarged cylinder, mounting means having the reel mounted thereon for rotation and having said shaft mounted thereon for rotation and reciprocation axially of the shaft, a sprocket having a splined axial aperture therein, said sprocket concentrically received upon said splined portion of said shaft, a stop member mounted on said mounting means and with said means forming a yoke within which is received said sprocket whereby saidsprocket is prevented from reciprocation with said shaft, means for driving said sprocket whereby said shaft is rotated, a distributor carriage having an aperture therethrough within which is received said shaft, a follower projecting from said carriage and positioned so as to engage the threaded portion of said shaft whereby said carriage is reciprocated by the rotation of said shaft, a sheave mounted on said carriage for guiding the strand toward the takeup reel, a member having a T-slot therein and within which is rotatably received said enlarged cylindrical portion of said shaft, a fluid-cylinder system connected to said member whereby said shaft can be indexed in a direction longitudinally thereof, means for actuating said fluid-cylinder system, whereby, as said carriage finishes a reciprocating stroke in one direction, the shaft is rapidly moved a distance in the opposite direction of winding and the strand is prevented from piling up at the flanges of the takeup reel.

5. In combination with a strand-distributing apparatus of the type wherein a traversing guide mounted on a rotary threaded shaft reciprocates back and forth across the winding surface of a rotating takeup reel upon rotation of the shaft to distribute the strand onto the reel in a succession of layers of helical convolutions; the improvement which comprises means for supporting the shaft for both rotation and longitudinal movement with respect thereto, means for moving the shaft longitudinally thereof, and means operable immediately after the completion of each strand-distributing stroke as the strand reaches the end of the reel for actuating said shaft-moving means so that said shaft-moving means moves the shaft a predetermined short distance in the direction opposite to that of the previous strand-distributing stroke in order to rapidly reverse the angle of approach of the strand to the reel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,141,583 Ryden June 1, 1915 2,519,461 Hanson Aug. 22, 1950 2,608,354 Whittaker Aug. 26, 1952 2,639,105 Farrar May 19, 1953 2,660,382 Wilson Nov. 24, 1953 2,719,678 Lanstrom Oct. 4, 1955 2,779,544 Hafer Jan. 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 575,790 Great Britain Mar. 5, 1946 

